Berliner Tageblatt - Amsterdam mega-brothel plans rile EU vaccines watchdog

The European Medicines Agency (EMA), which moved to the Dutch capital from London in 2019 due to Brexit, said Tuesday it was "extremely concerned" by the proposal by Amsterdam city council.

Amsterdam wants to move legal prostitution outside the city centre's famed red light district over complaints from residents about crime and often rowdy behaviour.

"EMA is very concerned that this will create safety, security and nuisance issues" for its staff and for visiting delegates, who often have to leave late in the evening, the regulator said in a statement.

"The change of the location of the red light district is motivated by concerns of nuisance, drug-dealing, drunkenness and disorderly behaviour," it added.

"Locating the Erotic Centre in close proximity to EMA's building is likely to bring the same negative impacts to the adjacent area."

The EMA said it would now work with the European Commission in Brussels, the EU's executive arm, to take the case to the "highest appropriate political and diplomatic level to ensure a safe working environment".

The watchdog added that it had only learned about the proposals through local media reports and "would have expected to be consulted".

Two of the three proposed locations for the huge new brothel are near the EMA's high-tech headquarters in a business district on the southern outskirts of Amsterdam.

The once-low-profile agency played a key role during the coronavirus pandemic, approving vaccines as the disease swept the globe and then dealing with concerns about possible side effects.

"EMA's work is essential for the protection of public health in the EU, and this should not be jeopardised by fears of staff and EU experts coming to EMA's building," it said.

The planned erotic centre will have 100 spaces for sex workers, complete with areas for work breaks and other hospitality outlets, under the proposals by Amsterdam city council.

The city eventually plans to shut down the centuries-old Red Light district, or De Wallen, which is known for the neon-lit windows in which sex workers stand as they try to attract customers.

Local residents have long complained about the quality of life in the area, which draws huge crowds of tourists. In February the city said it would ban cannabis smoking in the district.

J.Fankhauser--BTB